France
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Rough Guide to France

Babygoes2 recommends properties which are suitable for babies or toddlers for a variety of reasons (go to first stop). None of these properties however is 100% child-safe. All of the property descriptions are the opinion of BabyGoes2 and not the individual property owner or tour operator. Prices, while as accurate as possible, are for guidance only. Check late deals and members offers for any price reductions or offers.
La Grange du Moulin
Stay: La Grange du Moulin
www.grangedumoulin.com
Sleeps: Six Family Friendly cottages sleeping 4, 6 and 8 people in two, three and four bedrooms
Location: Chris and Wendy have found the perfect spot for their Family friendly gites. They are set on the edge of the rural hamlet of Courgeon, near St Jean d’Angely in the Charente Maritime, the heart of Cognac country. Within easy reach of the Atlantic beaches from La Rochelle to Royan yet also centrally located for all places of interest in this beautiful region of SW France.
Accommodation:
  • Spacious and comfortable: whichever cottage you choose, the proper bedrooms will have comfortable beds (no bed settees or bunks on landings !) a full bathroom with bath, shower facility, toilet and sink with excellent water pressure and loads of hot water. They all have enough lounge and dining seating to accommodate everyone.

  • Well equipped with everything you'll need for a self catering family holiday. All the cottages have 4 ring gas hob, oven, grill, refrigerator, microwave and all the crockery and cutlery needed; some cottages have dishwasher, dvd, fridge/freezer and drinks fridge too.

  • Choice of cottages to suit your budget and your tastes

  • Family Friendly accommodation. We have furnished our cottages comfortably but have avoided expensive knick knacks and antiques so that you can relax and let your children play happily

  • Relaxing environment, surrounded by open countryside with vines and sunflowers in all directions, the cottages offer a truly French gite experience. They have original oak beams, thick exposed stone walls and cool tiled floors yet offer all the conveniences of home. Lie under the apple tree reading a book picked from our library, sit on your terrace watching the children make new friends whilst you sip a chilled glass of the local Pineau or take a stroll around the quiet country lanes, through the woods and hamlets and practice your French with the locals. Experience the real France.
Facilities: Safe, Peaceful and child friendly rural environment, Large garden with swings and slide, Sandpit, Enclosed Swimming pool, Heated toddler pool, Games room, Table tennis, Laundry room with washing machines and dryer – free to use, Off road private parking, individual and communal barbecues.

Wine Tastings: a haven for Francophiles, Chris and Wendy not only offer professional wine tastings (Chris was in the Wine business in his previous life) but also family vine walks, guided visits to a local winery, moules and oyster evenings and barbecue evenings, because if it’s a family holiday them Mum and Dad want to enjoy themselves too !
For children: Chris and Wendy have 2 young children of their own, they have also been letting out cottages to families with toddlers and children of all ages at La Grange du Moulin since 1996 so have experience of what children of all ages enjoy and what makes their parents holidays enjoyable too.

They Welcome families with children of all ages.That means there will be other like minded families with children, all wanting an enjoyable relaxing stay where there are other children for theirs to play with. If your children are entertained then it usually means you'll be able to relax that bit more.

Large garden has a sandpit, swings and slide. These are set on an impact absorbing wood chip surface (just in case). There is plenty of space to play boules or ball. There are numerous large trees around the garden creating plenty of shade and also lots of super hiding places. There are lots of childrens garden toys and trikes and a very popular tractor.

Beaches are an easy drive away from La Rochelle to Royan there are so many places to discover and explore.

Swimming pool is completely enclosed by a 1m80 high fence and wall and is accessed by one gate which is self closing and has a child proof latch. It is alarmed for extra security and maintained daily.There are plenty of sun beds and both sunny and shady areas at different times of day.

Heated Splash pool perfect for toddlers. There is also a small paddling pool for the really tiny ones.

Babysitting so you can enjoy a night out at one of the superb restaurants in the area - We now offer a 'Mini Creche service' with Wendy, a registered child minder, who can welcome children one afternoon each week so you can enjoy a lunch out or some time alone.

Cots, highchairs, stair barriers, potty, child toilet seat, booster seat, toddler step, baby monitor, steam steriliser, hand blender, change mats, non slip bathmats, indoor and outdoor toys, plastic plates, cutlery, cups, baby bath, baby seat.

Table Tennis and Games room which has a selection of board games and books for the older ones.

Teddy Bears Picnics in May, June and September. If you have children under 5, take advantage of the cheaper accommodation, great deals and unique activities we offer.
Travel guide: Low-cost air services fly to La Rochelle (1 hour away) or Bordeaux (1.5 hours away), departures are from Heathrow, Stansted, Southampton, Bristol, Birmingham, Nottingham and others, flight time 1 hour or less. It's about 4 hours drive from the ferry port of St Malo, 5 hours from Le Havre and 6 hours from Caen or Cherbourg.
Price guide: May Half term from £300 per week ; High season from £725 per week. A three bedroomed cottage with a dishwasher, sleeping 6 in August would be £795 in 2010. This includes all utilities and local taxes.
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Maison Marennes
Stay: Maison Marennes
www.maisonmarennes.co.uk info@maisonmarennes.co.uk
Sleeps: 2 – 10 people (+ cots) in one large family house with pool
Location: In the village of Marennes, on the West Coast of France about 45km south of La Rochelle, this large townhouse with walled garden is two minutes walk from the centre of the village and is five minutes by car/15 minutes by bike from the sea. This is oyster country, the roads are flat and perfect for cycling and there are small marinas and beaches dotted along the coast as well as the more renowned alternatives in Royan and La Rochelle. Maison Marennes has been designed by parents of young children to be as relaxing, if not more relaxing, than being at home and is particularly suited to two or more families sharing and lots of mucking about in the heated pool and garden. The nearby zoo, forest climbing centre and cinema are all firm favourites with past guests.
Accommodation: There are two double bedrooms, two twin bedrooms, one bunkroom and one cot room (though please note one of the twin rooms has full length but low beds with foam mattresses for kids). There is a new kitchen with everything you would expect including a dishwasher, a huge and addictive L shaped sofa in the living room, and all beds and mattresses are to a high spec and new in 2008.

The house is very comfortable and well furnished but there are no white sofas, or glass tables with sharp corners, or irreplaceable items if you do have an inquisitive two year old who likes to test things out!

There is one bathroom which is en suite plus one ensuite shower room, one other shower room, and two separate loos.

The garden is fully enclosed, with a terrace area outside the kitchen that is fenced in and with a shaded outside area perfect for letting toddlers play while you are in the kitchen.

All sheets and towels including beach/pool towels are provided.
Facilities: Heated pool with optional contraflow; table tennis table; trampoline; Wireless internet; printer and fax; Large plasma TV: Sky+ with UK channels; DVD player & DVDs; iPod dock; Toys and books; Bikes (3 adult 2 kids); Apple computer; Central heating and large fireplace for the winter; BBQ; Washing machine; Pool with alarm and heater; Hairdryer: Iron and ironing board; Babysitting & housekeeping service.
For children: Cot room with changing mat; Kid’s room with low beds; High chair; Potty; Booster seats for cars; Kid’s cutlery and plastic plates etc; stairgate; Banisters are enclosed; Lots of toys for 1-8 year olds; Inflatables for the pool.
Travel guide: From the UK:nearest airport is La Rochelle (Ryanair from Stansted; Flybe from Southampton) By Train The TGV from Paris to La Rochelle takes 3hrs 15 and you can hire cars from both La Rochelle airport and train station. You need to take the Eurostar from St Pancras to Paris, then change in Paris to catch the TGV down to La Rochelle. www.raileurope.com By Car Portsmouth to Caen ferry - it is an overnight on the ferry normally, then a good 5 hour drive down.
Price guide: 1,850 euros a week in July and August
1,250 euros a week in June, September and May half term
850 euros a week in the rest of May and Easter holidays
450 euros a week for the rest of the year
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La Bigorre
Stay: La Bigorre Holiday Cottages - www.labigorre.com

Located 30 mins from the beach these are great houses with all mod cons, a heated swimming pool and lots of things for children to do and others for them to meet to make holidays fun!

The English owners Robina and Ian provide a highly relaxing environment, and specialise in families with young children.

The properties are perfect for extended families and families wishing to holiday together. La Bigorre can open a few doors and provide up to 8 bedrooms with 4 bathrooms in three independent yet connected houses, yet with dining spaces big enough for all.

The houses were recently re-equipped with comfortable beds and much new furniture. Top quality bed linen and towels are included and if luggage space is a problem the owners can also provide beach towels for use by the pool.

The safe, large, well-stocked and partly wooded mature garden has plenty of lawn for games. In season help yourself to cherries, nectarines, peaches, pears, apples, grapes and figs that grow in abundance.

For families
  • Huge array of infant and toddlers toys and games
  • Indoor play area
  • Heated pool (10m by 5m, fenced and alarmed)
  • Comprehensive baby equipment includes: seats, buggies, listeners, sterilising unit, plastic plates, bowls, beakers, high chairs and cots, booster seats, cot bedding, baby monitor change mats, non-slip bath mats toilet/sink steps, potties - all at no extra charge
  • Separate under 5’s swings in shaded area
  • Climbing frame in the games field for older children
  • Large selection of quality bikes for adults and children
  • Extensive Video and DVD library
  • Table tennis, pool, table football, air hockey, boules, cricket, football

Location: The three cottages are in the small rural hamlet of La Bigorre, 5 minutes south of Gemozac in the Charente Maritime. Close by are small marina towns, chateaux, historic fort towns but most importantly wonderful beaches at Royan, St Georges de Didonne and the Ile d'Oleron. All around are the world’s greatest wine and Cognac producing areas.
Accommodation: Each house is fully equipped and has a private terrace with large tables and chairs with parasol and barbeque.

The Farmhouse (Saturday changeover) Sleeps 8 in comfort

This is the largest property featuring character fireplaces and exposed beams in the bedrooms. A lovely kitchen, with table comfortably seating 10 looks out onto the garden. A range-style cooker with 2 gas ovens makes cooking for larger families easy and a log burner ensures comfort on any chilly spring or autumn evenings.

Upstairs:
  • 2 double bedrooms
  • 1 large bedroom with a set of bunks and a two single beds
  • 1 bathroom with corner bath, shower cubicle, toilet and washbasin.
Downstairs:
  • Kitchen/dining room, cooker, microwave, fridge-freezer, dishwasher, washing machine.
  • Lounge with English TV (BBC/ITV/Channels 4&5 via satellite), video/DVD

    Well Cottage (Saturday changeover) Sleeps 8 in comfort

    This property looks out onto the communal ancient well, historically used by all the inhabitants of La Bigorre to do their washing in the large troughs (now planted with colourful summer plants). This is a very popular spacious house (on average the rooms are about 25m2), semi-detached to The Farmhouse. For large parties of up to 20 the two can be taken together.

    Upstairs:
    • Double bedroom
    • Bedroom with a set of bunk beds and two single beds (can be 2 sets of bunks if preferred)
    Downstairs:
    • Twin bedroom
    • Kitchen/dining room (single oven gas cooker, microwave, fridge-freezer, dishwasher, washing machine).
    • Lounge with English TV (BBC/ITV/Channels 4&5 via satellite), video/DVD
    • Bathroom with walk-in shower area with recessed shower tray and also bath with shower over, toilet and washbasin.
    • 1 separate toilet
    Because of the layout, Well Cottage would be suitable for less able-bodied visitors including wheelchair users.


    The Stables (Thursday changeover) Sleeps 6 in comfort

    Formerly used when the property was producing wine, The Stables would have been a palatial residence for a horse, constructed as it is from cut stone. Converted for the 2006 season it now provides modern comforts without losing the traditional charm. The open plan accommodation is ideal for either couples or a family. The French doors, set in an exposed stone wall, lead out into the mature gardens and overlook the swings for the very small children.

    Upstairs:
    • Double bedroom with exposed beams
    • Bedroom with a set of bunks and two single beds (can be 2 sets of bunks if preferred)
    • Bathroom with shower over the bath; toilet and washbasin.
    Downstairs:
    • Large 26' x 20' open-plan living room with fully-equipped kitchen, dining suite and lounge area with English TV (BBC/ITV/Channels 4&5 via satellite), video/DVD
  • Facilities: 10 m x 5 m heated swimming pool (fenced and alarmed for safety) with superb countryside views. Outside play area with swings and slide and a Games Barn with table tennis table, table football, air hockey, boule sets etc. Video and DVD library.

    All bed linen and towels are provided, including beach towels if packing space is at a premium. A generous Welcome Pack is supplied and a pre-arrival shopping service can also be provided.
    For children: Locally there are excellent safe clean beaches (as well as surfing beaches for older children), boating lakes, miniature railways, play areas and lots of child-centered activities. On-site the childrens' play areas and pool are as described above. Baby equipment such as cots, highchairs and baby listening equipment is available. Baby sitting normally available.
    Travel guide: Low-cost air services fly to Bordeaux or La Rochelle, each less than 1 hour away (departures from Heathrow, Stansted, Southampton, Bristol, Birmingham, Nottingham and others, flight time 1 hour or less). It's about 4.5 hours drive from the ferry port of St Malo (the favourite route)
    Price guide: The Stables (sleeps 6-8)
    From £425 - £795
    Well Cottage (sleeps 8-10)
    From £575 – £975
    The Farmhouse (sleeps 8-10)
    From £600 - £995
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